Square piano by André Stein, Vienna, ca. 1820-1830

NMM 4328. Square piano by André Stein, Vienna, ca. 1820-1830. FF-f4 (six octaves). Two pedals: dampers, moderator. Veneered in mahogany, the piano, decorated in the Classically derived French Empire style common in this period, features legs of a type found in ancient Roman furniture. Transfer from Harvard University, Cambridge, 1988.

Decoration on Stein piano lyre

André and his older sister, Nannette, children of Johann Andreas Stein, the famous piano builder in Augsburg, moved to Vienna in 1794, where they opened a shop together. In 1802, André opened his own shop. He took the French form of his given name, and received his Austrian citizenship and master's rights in 1803. In turn, his son, Karl, became an important piano maker in his own right after 1828.